Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to apparatus for sorting copies
advanced from a high speed copier/duplicator into collated sets
in both simplex and duplex modes of operation.
In copier/duplicator systems sorters normally include bin
modular units with a multitude of trays as described in U. S.
Patent Nos. 3,561,754, 3,356,362, 2,876,008, 2,951,697, and
3,076,647. These sorters are suitable for sorting and collating
copy sheets bearing information on one side only, but are not
entirely satisfactory for sorting and collating copy sheets
bearing information on either one or both sides referred to as
duplexing.
The present invention is, generally speaking, a sorter/
collator adapted for universal usage with the copier/duplicator
of aLl types including simplex and duplex modes of operation.
More than this the invention does not require an inverter device
which is used to invert sheets for different sorting modes of
operations.
In accordance with the present teachings there is
provided an improved sorting apparatus for sorting in either
simplex or duplex modes of operation for combination with a
copier/duplicator machine which would produce simplex and duplex
copy sheets. A rotatable member supported in a frame with an
array of tray members arranged axially of the rotatable member is
provided. A drive means is provided for rotating the rotatable
member in one direction when sorting simplex copies from the
machine and in the opposite direction when sorting duplex copies.
A conveyor means is provided having a deflector member for direct-
ing copy sheets towards one feed zone adjacent the path of the
tray members on one side and another feed zone adjacent the path
of the tray members on the other side with control means for
supplying signals to the drive means and the deflector member to
rotate the tray member in a pre-determined direction and direct
sheets to a selected feed zone depending on whether simplex or
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duplex sorting mode of operation :is desired.
According to another aspect of this invention there is
provided a sheet receiving apparatus for a reproducing
machine, said sheets having a first and opposing face,
said apparatus comprising: a plurality of sheet
receiving bins, arranged radially on a drum member,
said bins including first and second side members for
supporting a sheet in said bin, means for moving said
side members between a first orientation in which said
sheets in said bins are supported by said first side
members with said first face exposed, and a second
- orientation in which said sheets in said bins are
supported by said second side member with said opposing
face exposed, and means for conveying said sheets to
said binS-
The above and added advantages of the present
invention will be more apparent after reading the
following detailed description which refers to accom-
panying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a xerographic
copier/duplicator machine of the type used with the sorting
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apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of sorting apparatus
according to the present invention; and
Figure 3 is an exploded view illustrating staggered
and separately identifiable collated sets in the receiving tray.
Figure 1 shows a schematic of the copier/duplicator
system including a copier machine which is a high speed copier/
duplicator capable of producing simplex or duplex copies at the
option of a machine operator. The copier machine has a platen 4
for receiving documen~s to be reproduced, and a control panel 5
(Fig. 2) which includes various control knobs, buttons, and
switches for selecting various modes of operation such as simplex
and duplex copies and the number of copies to be reproduced. In
accordance with the invention, the copier/duplicator system
includes a sorting apparatus 6 having tray assemblies 7 (Fig. 2).
The copier/duplicator system includes an automatic
xerographic apparatus which includes a photosensitive plate
including a photoconductive layer 10 that is placed over a
conductive backing. The plate is formed in the shape of a drum
11 and the drum mounted upon a shaft 12 that is journaled for
rotation in the machine frame. Basically, the xerographic drum
is rotated in the direction indicated so as to pass sequentially
through a series of xerographic processing stations. The photo-
sensitive drum and the xerographic processing apparatus are
driven at predetermined speeds relative to each other from a
drive system (not shown) and the operation thereof coordinated in
order to produce ~oper cooperation of the various processing
mechanisms.
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Thc original, to be re roduced, is E~laced upon a
trans~arant horizoIItall~ suppor~ed plat~.l 4 and the original
scanned by meana o a moving optical scannillg syst~m and to
produce a flowing light i~age of the original. The scanning
system includes an eloll~ated horizon~al extenc1ecl aperture
lamp 15 and a ~oveable lens element 1~.
The lamp and lens elelnent moves in coordination across
the object supported upon the platen to fOcuâ successive lncremental
bans of illumination reflected rrom the object onto the
moving drum surface at synchronous sp~eds therewith. Tne
optical path is folded by means of a pair of image mirrors
19 and 20 interposed bet~.een the lens and the drum surface,
the drum is first uniformly charged by means of a corona
generator 13 positioned on charging station A. Under the
influence of the flowing light image, the uniformly
- charged photoconductive surface is selectively dissipated
in the non-ima~e areas to form what is commonly known as
a "latent electrostatic image".
The latent electrostatic image is carried on the
drum surface from the exposure station into the developing
station C. The developing station primarily is comprised of
a developer housing 22 adapted to support a supply of two-
component developer material 21 therein. The developer material
is transported by means of a buc~et system 23 from the bottom
of the developer housing to an elevated position where the
material is delivered into the active developement zone.
The developer material is caused to flow downwardly in
contact with the upwardly moving drum surface under closely
; controlled conditions wherein charged toner particles are
attracted from the developer mix into the image areas on the
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plate surface thus mal-~ins t`~ ,e viai~lt.
The ~oving drum sur ~ ce n2,-:t transports the de-
veloped xerographic image to trar.sfer station D. Cut
sheets of final support materi-ai a~e also m~ved into the trans-
fer station, the backside of tl_ copy sheet is sprayed with anion discharge frorn a transfer co-o~ron 25 inducing on the
sheet a charge having a polari'y and magnitude sufficient
to attract the toner material ~rom the drum surface to the
final support material. Thia induced charge also electro-
statically tacks the final support material to the drum sur-
face. In order to remove the copy sheet from the drum surface
a stripper finger 2~ is positicned downstream from the trans-
fer corotron. The finger is arranged to move between the
drum surface and the copy shee. and lifts the sheet from the
drum surface and the copy sheet is directed along a predeter-
mined path of travel into contact with a stationary vacuum
transport 29.
Although a preponderance of the toner material is
transferred from the drum surface to the copy sheet during
the transfer process, invariably some residual toner remains
behind on the drum surface a~te~ transfer. This residual
toner is transported on the drum surface into a cleaning
station E where it is brougnt ur.der the influence of a cleaning
corotron 30 adapted to neutral ze tle electrostatic charge
tending to hold the residual toner to the drum surface.
~he neutralized toner is mechanicaily cleaned from the
drum surface by means of a blade or the like and the toner
collected within a housing 31. A conveyor moving in an
endless loop through tubes 32 transports the collected residual
toner back to -the developer housing ~here it is deposited
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witilin t;le c'evelop r mix so that it can be once agains re-
used in tne ~eroc;ra~"hic developing process.
The copy sheet, which has been removed from the
drum surface after t;~e transfer operation, is moved alony
sta~ionary ~ransport 29 into fusing station F. The fuser 33
is basic~lly made up of an upper fuser roll 34 and a lower
fuser roll 35 mounted in 03erative relation to each other and
arranged to coact so as to support a shee-t oE material in
pressure driving contact therebetween. The lower roll is
heated. As the heated roll is rotated in the direction in-
dicated tne heated surface of the lower roll is pressed into
intimate contact with the image face of the support sheet.
~echanical and heat energy transported from the roll
surface to the support sheet permanently bond the toner par-
ticles to the support material.
Upon leaving the fuser, the fixed copy sheet ispassed througn a curvalinear sheet guide system, generally
; referred to as 39, into cooperating advancing rolls 43 and
44. At tnis point, d~pending on whether simplex or duplex mode
of operation is se ccted, the copy sheet is either forwa-ded
directly to the sorter or into the upper supply tray 52 by
means of a moveable sheet guide 45 before entering the sorter,
respectively.
It is believed that the foregoing description is
sufficient for purposes of the present application to show
the general operation of a xerographic reproducing machine.
For a more detailed explanation of the copier/duplicator
xerographic components reference is made to U. S. Patent ~o.
3,645,615 entitled Copying Apparatus.
Sorting apparatus 6 comprises a transport assembly
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101 which includes a ~ransport 105 an~ 10/ for transporting
simpleY. or side one up and duplex side two up copy sheets
from the xerographic processing apparatus into different
sheet feed zones 110 and 112, respectively. A deflector
gate mem~er 115 serves to direct sheets towards sheet dis-
charge zone 110 when actuated in one position and towards
transport 107 and sheet discharge zone 112 when actuated in
another position. The actuation of gate member 115 is controlled
by any suitable device such as a solenoid which is energized
when selecting the desired sorting mode of operation on control
panel 5.
Sheet discharge zones 110 and 112 are arranged to
feed sheets into tray assemblies 7 mounted~ y on a rotatable
member 130. Rotatable member 130 is mounted on the frame to
rotate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions de-
pending on the sorting mode of operation. It should be under-
stood that the sorting could be accomplished with the tray
assemblles rotating in one direction only, but this would
require more time. Rotatable member 130 is driven by a re-
versible motor (not shown) which drives member 130 in a pre-
determined direction accordir.g to the mode of selection on
the control panel. The drive may be incremental or continuous
as desired. By ,his structure the sheets are collated and sorted
for both simplex and duplex modes of operation.
The tray assemblies have one or more bands or guides
135 for retaining the collated sheets until they are in a
position adjacent an unloading tray 140 where a gate member
142 releases the collated set of sheets, during the unloading
cycle which follows the sorting cycle, with signals supplied to
a gate actuator 145. Unloading tray 140 is slideably mounted
on guides and is adapted to move in reciprocating fashion upon
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receiving each set of copy sheets ~rom a tray assembly. Any
suitable drive can be used or this purpose as a drive motor
150~ sy this structure a set separa~ion of the copy sets in~o
staggered identifiable stacks is accom~lished (Fiy. 3).
In operation for simplex sorting the copy sheets are
transported with side one up by transport 105 and directed
towards sheet discharcJe zone 112 which feeds them into the
tray assemblies 7 moving in a cloc~wise direction. In the case
of duplex sorting the sheets are directed with side 1 face down
and side 2 face up towards sheet discharge zone 110 which feeds
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them into the tray assemblies moving in a cloc];~i3c direction.
While there have been shown and described and pointed
out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied
to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various
omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details
of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by
those s~illed in the art without departing from the spirit
of the invention.
